'Star Trek': The Cult of William Shatner

William Shatner is a man synonymous with so much more than strapping on a uniform, corset and rug to play the likes of Captain Kirk in Star Trek and TJ Hooker in the eponymous '80s cop show. He is a cult. An institution. A presence on this planet that should be rejoiced and rewarded with endless timeline-defying cameos in the new Star Trek movies! Here are a few reasons why he deserves a place in your heart...

International Talk Like Shatner DayEvery year on March 22, the day of the great man's birthday, homage is paid to Shatner's distinctive delivery and intonations. It all began in 2009 courtesy of Maurice LaMarche, who explains how to perfect 'the pause' in this tutorial...

Khaaaaaaaaaaan!In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, a very special moment happened. It consisted of one bellowed word and an angry, contorted face. Magical.

Shatner's BassoonChris Morris's satirical Channel 4 show Brass Eye gave rise to the 'Shatner's Bassoon' phenomenon. In an episode revolving around a fake drug called 'Cake', an unwitting Noel Edmonds explains that Shatner's Bassoon is a part of the brain that deals with time perception...

Common PeopleThe Shatner monotone was cleverly deployed on this cover version of the Pulp classic. His whole 'singing' career boldly went where no crooner has gone before, yet proved to be utterly compelling. Move over Jarvis Cocker...

The Sulu Showdown"Retribution must be paid, George. I need retribution".They may have been buddies on board the Starship Enterprise as Kirk and Sulu, but there's no love lost between the two former co-stars in real life. Just witness this riposte from Shatner to George Takei on YouTube.

The Broadway showAt the age of 80, the Klingon-defying icon embarked on a one-man show entitled Shatner's World: We Just Live In It last year. In this commercial, he pelvic thrusts a planet...

The 2013 Oscars"Come in Dolby Theatre. This is Captain James T Kirk of the Starfleet..."It's as if Star Trek: Generations never happened, as Kirk accosts Seth MacFarlane about his hosting abilities. Is this canon?

Roasted by Betty WhiteWilliam Shatner proved he can take a joke as he endured merciless ribbing about his girth in the 2006 Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner special. You know you're something special when Betty White rips it out of you for not drinking low-fat milk...

The World's Speediest Joke TellerIt's the way you tell 'em! Marvel at the way Shatner can condense a three-minute joke into barely one minute by cranking his delivery up to Warp Factor 11...

Shatner's Bassoon - The BandThe Brass Eye homage didn't end with the television show - it spawned a band named after the fictional part of the brain detailed by Noel Edmonds! On their Twitter page, they describe themselves as "a band of six Leeds based improvisers influenced by William Shatner's monologues and the perils of jazz induced trances..."